Loropetalum plant named ‘GriffCRL’

ABSTRACT

A  Loropetalum chinense  var.  rubrum  cultivar particularly distinguished by having a compact growth habit, vibrant fuchsia flower color, abundant flowers and tolerance to heavy rain, high wind and ice is disclosed.

Genus and species: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum.

Variety denomination: ‘GriffCRL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum, botanically known as Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘GriffCRL’. The new cultivar was discovered as a naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum cultivar ‘Ruby’ (unpatented) in Watkinsville, Ga. in 1996.

The genus Loropetalum is included in the family Hamamelidaceae that comprises about 15 genera of shrubs and trees growing in the northern hemisphere. Loropetalum comprises one species of evergreen shrub or small tree which possesses desirable ornamental characteristics. Loropetalum was first introduced to Europe as an ornamental plant in the 1880s and is believed to have been cultivated in North America since the early 1930s. Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is a native of China and was first discovered in 1928 in Hunan Province. It was rediscovered in the late 1980s and subsequently introduced to the United States.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by stem cuttings at Watkinsville, Ga. since June, 1996, has shown that the distinctive features of this new Loropetalum are stable and reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Loropetalum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form, foliage and flowers. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1. shows the mature plant's form, foliage and flowers.

FIG. 2. shows a closer view of the flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘GriffCRL’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Watkinsville, Ga. The detailed description was taken on 7-year-old plants grown in the ground. Color readings were taken in natural light. Color references are to the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2001 edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Hamamelidaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘GriffCRL’.         -   Common name.—Chinese fringe flower; Asian witch hazel. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Loropetalum     chinense var. rubrum ‘Ruby’ (unpatented). -   Plant description:     -   -   Type.—Perennial, evergreen shrub.         -   Form.—Rounded.         -   Habit.—Multi-trunked with horizontal branches forming a             rounded shape.         -   Height.—5-6 feet.         -   Width.—11-12 feet. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—28 days at 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—35 days at 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—56 days at 29°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—72 days at 21°             C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous, freely branching; fleshy             new roots. -   Growing conditions: Does well in full sun and tolerates temperatures     from −13° C. to 38° C. Requires yearly fertilization with a     slow-release fertilizer. This plant tolerates heavy rain, high wind     and ice due to its strong, compact branching habit. -   Branches:     -   -   Habit.—Planar branches at 180° from trunks.         -   Number.—31.         -   Length.—6 feet.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm at 2.5 cm from branch tip; 0.3 cm at 30.5             cm from tip.         -   Internode length.—1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Round.         -   Color.—New growth: RHS 183A (gray-purple). First-year             growth: RHS 199A (gray-brown). Second-year growth: RHS 200C             (brown).         -   Pubescence.—New growth: Evenly pubescent. First and second             year: Pubescent in fissures. Lenticels: Present on             second-year and older wood. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Number per lateral branch.—700.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Oblique.         -   Length.—3.31 cm.         -   Width.—2.12 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rough, sandpaper-like. Lower             surface: Rough, but not as rough as upper surface.         -   Pubescence.—Upper surface: Present on veins, sparse between             veins. Lower surface: Sparse.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Immature leaves: Upper surface: RHS 183C             (gray-purple). Lower surface: RHS 183D (gray-purple). Mature             leaves: Upper surface: RHS 186A (gray-purple) with RHS 199A             (gray-brown) midvein and RHS 199D (gray-brown) lateral             veins. Lower surface: RHS 187B (gray-purple) with RHS 62C             (red-purple) midvein and RHS 62D (red-purple) lateral veins. -   Petioles:     -   -   Length.—0.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—RHS 199A (gray-brown).         -   Stipules.—At first and second nodes from end of new growth;             not always present. Stipule length: 0.4 cm. Stipule width:             0.1 cm. Stipule color: RHS 183A (gray-purple). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Cyme.         -   Length.—2 cm.         -   Width.—4 cm.         -   Habit.—Configuration of florets forms an upright, rounded             umbel; the strap-shaped petals of the florets result in a             pom-pom-like appearance.         -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—8.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—2,000.         -   Inflorescence coverage per plant.—90% of plant is covered in             flowers during flowering period.         -   Flowering period.—March-April for 2 weeks; flowers again in             October.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—4-5 days.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Inflorescence buds:     -   -   Number of buds per lateral branch.—2,000.         -   Bud length.—0.15 cm.         -   Bud width.—0.15 cm.         -   Bud shape.—Orbicular.         -   Bud color.—RHS 77D (purple). -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Number.—4-6.         -   Shape.—Strap-shaped.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Blunt, sometimes notched.         -   Length.—2 cm.         -   Width.—0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Silky, both surfaces.         -   Color.—When opening: RHS 60A (red-purple), both surfaces.             When fully opened: RHS 61B (red-purple), both surfaces.             Fading to: RHS 83A (violet). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Cruciform.         -   Number.—4.         -   Shape.—Triangular.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute, curling outward.         -   Base.—Fused onto calyx cup.         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 64D (red-purple). Lower             surface: RHS 59D (red-purple). Mature: RHS 177A             (gray-orange), both surfaces. -   Calyx and peduncle:     -   -   Calyx.—Shape: Urn. Length: 0.2 cm. Width: 0.15 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 0.5 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Angle: 45 degrees             from stem. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4. Anther shape: Round. Anther length:             0.05 cm. Anther width: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 79B             (purple). Pollen: Minimal. Pollen color: RHS 155A (white).         -   Pistils.—Number: 1-2. Length: 0.1 cm. Stigma shape: Oval to             urn. Stigma color: RHS 59D (red-purple). Style length:             0.075 cm. Style color: RHS 59D (red-purple). Ovary color:             RHS 59D (red-purple). -   Seeds:     -   -   Number.—1-2.         -   Length.—0.6 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 202A (black). -   Fruit:     -   -   Type.—Two-horned capsule.         -   Number.—3-5 per lateral branch.         -   Number per plant.—100.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.6 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 177B (gray-orange).         -   Texture.—Woody.         -   Length of ripening.—4 months. -   Disease and insect resistance: No known pests. No leaf spot or other     foliage diseases observed. Not susceptible to root rot under normal     conditions.

COMPARISON WITH MUTATION PARENT

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘GriffCRL’ is a distinct variety of Loropetalum due to its compact habit, vibrant fuchsia flower color and abundant flowers. The closest comparison plant to ‘GriffCRL’ is its mutation parent ‘Ruby’, however it is distinguished from ‘Ruby’ by its smaller size, brighter flower color and the following characteristics listed in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘GriffCRL’ ‘Ruby’ Growth Habit Multi-trunked; Multi-trunked; branches at branches at 180° angle 45° angle Plant Height 5-6 feet 12 feet Plant Diameter 11-12 feet 10 feet Growth rate Slow Fast Number lateral branches 31 53 Lateral branch length 6 feet 4.5 feet Leaf length 3.31 cm 2.92 cm Leaf width 2.12 cm 2.06 cm Leaf color, mature leaf, upper RHS 186A RHS 147A surface (gray-purple) (yellow-green) Leaf color, mature leaf, lower RHS 187B RHS 147B surface (gray-purple) (yellow-green) Inflorescence coverage per 90% 80% plant, spring Inflorescence coverage per 20% 10% plant, fall 

1. A new and distinct Loropetalum plant as shown and described herein. 